The men, Daniel Cowart, 20, and Paul Schlesselman 18, have been charged with possessing an unregistered firearm, conspiring to steal firearms from a federally licensed gun dealer, and threatening a candidate for president.

They were arrested last Wednesday in Tennessee, the documents from the Memphis court showed.

Related Content

The men discussed a ``killing spree to include targeting a predominantly African-American school ... they further stated that their final act of violence would be to attempt to kill/assassinate presidential candidate Barack Obama'', Brian Weaks, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told the court.

Federal agents said the skinheads did not identify the school by name.

Advertisement

Jim Cavanaugh, special agent in charge of ATF's Nashville field office, said the two men planned to shoot 88 black people and decapitate another 14. The numbers 88 and 14 are symbolic in the white supremacist community.

``They said that...they would attempt to kill Senator Obama,'' Cavanaugh said. ``They didn't believe they would be able to do it, but that they would get killed trying.''

An Obama spokeswoman travelling with the senator in Pennsylvania had no immediate comment.

Cowart and Schlesselman are being held in custody. Agents seized a rifle, a sawed-off shotgun and three pistols from the men when they were arrested.

Authorities alleged the two men were preparing to break into a gun shop to steal more.

Lawyer Joe Byrd, who has been hired to represent Cowart, did not immediately return a call seeking comment today.

The investigation is continuing, and more charges are possible, Cavanaugh said.

The court records say Cowart and Schlesselman also bought nylon rope and ski masks to use in a robbery or home invasion to fund their spree, during which they allegedly planned to go from state to state and kill people.

For the Obama plot, the legal documents show, Cowart and Schlesselman ``planned to drive their vehicle as fast as they could toward Obama shooting at him from the windows.''

``Both individuals stated they would dress in all white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt,'' the court complaint states.

``Both individuals further stated they knew they would and were willing to die during this attempt.''

Cavanaugh said there is no evidence - so far - that others were willing to assist Cowart and Schlesselman with the plot.

He said authorities took the threats very seriously.

``They seemed determined to do it,'' Cavanaugh said. ``Even if they were just to try it, it would be a trail of tears around the South.''

Cowart, from Bells, Tennessee, and Schlesselman, from Arkansas, met via the Internet a month ago and have ``very strong beliefs and views regarding 'white power' and 'skinhead' views,'' Weaks said in his statement to the court.

``Schlesselman stated that they planned to drive their vehicles as fast as they could toward Obama shooting at him from the windows,'' Weaks said.

``Both individuals stated they would dress in all white tuxedos and wear top hats during the assassination attempt. Both individuals further stated they knew they would and were willing to die during this attempt.''

Obama, who has made history by becoming the first black presidential nominee of a major political party, is already under secret service protection having received it much earlier in the campaign than any other candidate.

In late August, the alarm was also raised when it was revealed three men were arrested with a weapons cache in Denver, Colorado where the party convention was being held. US attorneys later said there had been no credible threat against Obama.